A Guide to the UK's 10 Best Music Festivals

The stellar line-up of music festivals in the UK takes us from late spring to early autumn. To make your experience unforgettable, please remember the basic rules of festival attendance: book accommodation and transport as soon as tickets are released, travel by public transport whenever possible to help the environment, and leave nothing behind when you go. Look after yourself: stay hydrated at refill stations, get some sleep and – above all – enjoy yourself!

From the Inner Hebrides to the tip of Cornwall, here’s your curated guide to the top 10 music festivals to brighten up every UK summer, listed in approximate date order.

Ease into festival season with these popular events.

With the motto “Music sounds better with a view”, the Isle of Skye’s trad-electronic fusion party has the most spectacular setting of all music festivals in the UK. Its Big Top main stage perches on a tree-lined peninsula called Am Meall (known locally as The Lump), and has views over the Cuillin Ridge and The Old Man of Storr rock stack. Skye Live is just 10 years old but it’s already central to Caledonian summer diaries.
 

This three-day celebration of music and island life kicks off with a Thursday night concert, followed by an impressive roster of Celtic acts and late-night DJs. Headliners in 2026 include Beluga Lagoon with their ethereal music inspired by spectacular Scottish landscapes.

• When and where: 3 days in early May at Am Meall, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EW.
• How to get there: Citylink Scotland runs a bus service from Glasgow or Edinburgh direct to Portree.
• Anything for kids?: There are bubble parties and craft workshops on the Saturday.
• Where to stay: Mercure Inverness Hotel offers a convenient base. There’s also a campsite near the festival stage.

Such is the success of the UK’s biggest reggae and dub festival that it’s now the largest one-day Caribbean and African music celebration in the world, with bands and artists, sound systems and DJs bringing carnival vibes to south London. Dancehall singers Popcaan, Aidonia and Elephant Man have all appeared there, along with reggae artist and DJ Queen Ifrica.
 

This exuberant and inclusive coming together of the black community also focusses on culture and cuisine; there are black-owned street food stands offering jerk chicken and beef patties, as well as a market showcasing black talent in fashion and beauty.

• When and where: 2nd May Bank Holiday Monday at Brockwell Park, London SE24 9BJ.
• How to get there: The Victoria Line to Brixton tube station (10 minutes’ walk to Brockwell Park) or train to Herne Hill (5 minutes’ walk).
• Anything for kids?: Children are welcome at the festival, but there may be adult content in some of the acts.
• Where to stay: Stylish Novotel London Waterloo is handy for the Victoria Line from Victoria station.

From the ultimate festival vibe at Glasto to the Isle of Wight’s friendly cheer, June is when things really start getting into swing.

Mixing legendary artists with contemporary names, the UK’s first “proper” festival launched in 1968 and made history the following year when Bob Dylan headlined. Past stars of the show include Fleetwood Mac, Coldplay, The Rolling Stones and David Bowie, while recent big names appearing include Lewis Capaldi, 80s popsters Suzanne Vega and Rick Astley, the master of EDM-pop fusion Calvin Harris and grizzled old punk band The Cure.

Beyond the music, the festival has a laid-back, kid-friendly ambience and a lovely coastal location, making it a standout on the family summer events calendar.

• When and where: Mid-June weekend at Seaclose Park, Newport PO30 2EL.
• How to get there: There are ferry services from Portsmouth, Lymington and Southampton. Regular shuttle buses run to and from the ferry ports to the festival bus station.
• Anything for kids?: Keep little ones happy with bubble discos, circus workshops and storytelling in the Kidzone.
• Where to stay: Book early to camp at the festival site. Staying at ibis Portsmouth Centre beforehand puts you within easy reach of the ferry port.

The daddy of all UK music festivals has been around since 1970, with the occasional fallow year (like 2026) for the Worthy Farm fields to recover from their annual invasion. In that time, Glastonbury has morphed from a one-day event with 1,500 revellers to a five-day party with more than 210,000 festival-goers cutting loose every year. The site is now the size of 500 football pitches; it has 25 stages, a multitude of performance areas and around 4,000 acts from acrobatics to tai chi workshops and tango lessons.

Glastonbury also provides class entertainment from the most famous musicians on the planet. The Who, Elton John and Ed Sheeran have all performed the prestigious Sunday-night Pyramid Stage headliner set, and rock legends Dolly Parton, Yusuf/Cat Stevens and Diana Ross have also strutted the Glasto stage.

• When and where: Late July 2027 at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset BA4 4BY.
• How to get there: The nearest station is Castle Cary, 30 minutes’ drive from Worthy Farm. Free shuttle buses run between them both all week.
• Anything for kids?: Youngsters under the age of 12 go free, and the Kidzfield offers up magicians, face painting and climbing frames.
• Where to stay: Book Mercure Bridgwater Hotel, 40 minutes away by car, for comfortable rooms and supper at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse! There’s also accommodation at the site.

The start of the summer holidays brings festivals with lots for everyone to enjoy.

If you like your crowds small and your tunes hardcore, 2000trees is the UK music festival for you. With a capacity for 15,000 people, it’s one of the friendliest and most community-minded festivals, with a reputation for delivering the next big band or artiste, especially at the hard-rock end of mainstream. As it’s more intimate than other major festivals, you can expect to see indie rock bands like Manchester Orchestra, punk rockers Alkaline Trio or the Sabrini Girls performing on small, intimate stages and engaging in lots of cheeky banter with the crowd.

• When and where: The 2nd week in July at Upcote Farm, Withington, Gloucestershire GL54 4BL.
• How to get there: Travel more sustainably on the Big Green Coach from London Victoria, Calcot in Reading or Swindon town centre.
• Anything for kids?: Offload your kids safely at the Forest School for bushcraft workshops and tree climbing.
• Where to stay: Opt for glamping on site or shuttle 25 minutes’ drive each way from Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel, set in a handsomely restored Georgian mansion.

Held at Lulworth Castle on the Dorset coast, Camp Bestival is organised by DJ Rob Da Bank. More than a simple UK music festival, it’s a four-day cultural jolly and camping break for families. Along with big-name acts (Fatboy Slim, Faithless and Sir Tom Jones among them), you can look forward to comedy and theatre workshops, sound baths and pop-up saunas. There’s a packed itinerary of kids’ fun too, such as junkyard-robot making, fancy dress parades and a roller disco.

• When and where: Late July and early August at Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth, Dorset BH20 5QS.
• How to get there: Catch trains to Wareham and Wool stations, where taxis ship you to the site, or go carbon-neutral on the Big Green Coach from London Victoria.
• Anything for kids?: The festival is designed around families.
• Where to stay: Opt for modern, design-led guest rooms at ibis Styles Bournemouth, 45 minutes’ away in the car, or stay under canvas on site.

Make the most of the long summer evenings with your pick of these UK music festivals, from Cornwall to Edinburgh.

Honouring Welsh culture for more than eight centuries, the Eisteddfod migrates annually between north and south Wales. Although it’s still primarily a singing, dancing and poetry competition, the side show now mirrors the best of UK music festivals. Wales’ leading writers, musicians and poets take to the stage, and after dark you can watch star-studded cabaret from the likes of bass-baritones Bryn Terfel and Sir Geraint Evans.

A recent innovation is Mas ar y Maes, which sees the LGBTQ+ community and Stonewall Cymru joining forces with the Eisteddfod to present readings and the Pink Party showcasing queer ballroom dancing.

• When and where: The first week of August; 2026’s iteration is at Llantood in Pembrokeshire.
• How to get there: By train to Cardigan or Carmarthen, and then local buses to Llantood.
• Anything for kids?: The Children’s Village (Pentre Plant) is an interactive hub for den building and games.
• Where to stay: Base yourself at Mercure Swansea for easy access to Pembrokeshire’s attractions. There’s also a family campsite and one dedicated to festival-goers aged over 21.

Surfing meets UK music festival on the beaches of Cornwall… Boardmasters started life in 1981 as a surfing competition, with the music arriving in 2005. The tunes happen overlooking the Atlantic at Watergate Bay, where you can take a cooling dip between sets from headliners that might include a mixed bag of Lily Allen, The Prodigy and Sam Fender. You can watch the surfing for free at Fistral Beach – a shuttle bus runs between the two venues.

• When and where: Early August at Trebelsue Farm, Watergate Bay, Newquay TR8 4AN and Fistral Beach, Newquay TR7 1HY.
• How to get there: The eco-friendly way to travel is by Big Green Coach – there are pick-up points around the country.
• Anything for kids?: Youngsters can try their hand at surfing and skateboarding lessons at Fistral Beach.
• Where to stay: ibis Plymouth is a handy base for Cornwall and the beautiful South Coast. On site, camping options include luxury yurts or a family field with an 11pm noise curfew.

This long-standing festival of music, Highland dance, light shows and flypasts is played out against the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Little surpasses the memorable spectacle of hundreds of bagpipers and drummers marching in time – and full tartan regimental regalia – while beating out their haunting tunes.

Bands, drummers and drill teams from more than 50 countries have appeared at the Tattoo since 1952 – every year they join a cast of thousands in honouring Scots who died in conflict. Each show ends with soulful “Piper’s Lament” echoing around the castle walls and a colourful drone display.

• When and where: 3 weeks in August on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, EH1 2NG.
• How to get there: The Esplanade is a few minutes’ stroll from the George IV Bridge bus stop, Edinburgh Waverley station and Princes Street tram stop.
• Anything for kids?: The show is family-friendly, and kids aged under 3 get in free.
• Where to stay: If you’re visiting with family, Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile offers spacious apartments sleeping up to 4 guests; it’s 10 minutes’ walk away.

Here’s a burgeoning institution for the post-exam brigade looking for a weekend of running wild! Once a rock festival, Leeds has gradually shifted towards pop-oriented line-ups as its audience has gotten younger. The high-energy action runs Friday through Sunday on multiple stages; diverse acts like indie bands Florence + the Machine and Kasabian, electro-pop singer Charli XCX and rapper Dave compete for the attention of a youthful crowd bent on partying.
 

Previously rough and ready, the festival is gentrifying fast and now serves up Yorkshire pudding wraps, bao buns and tacos alongside local craft beers to keep the kids fully fuelled.

• When and where: August Bank Holiday at Bramham Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 6LS.
• How to get there: There are countrywide pick-ups by Big Green Coach and a shuttle bus service between Leeds station and Bramham Park.
• Anything for kids?: Leeds Festival is largely the preserve of teens and students; there are no specific activities for younger kids.
• Where to stay: Choose between on-site camping and local hotels: wallet-friendly ibis Styles Leeds City Centre Arena is handily close to the station.
  

1. The essentials: festival tickets, photo ID, cash/contactless payment app, phone and charger.
2. A pull-along trolley or wheelbarrow for your camping kit if you’re staying on site.
3. A bag/rucksack to carry around everything you need for the day.
4. Basic toiletries (biodegradable bamboo wipes are your best friend), hand sanitiser and a first-aid kit.
5. UK music festivals = mud. You may be lucky with the weather, but rain is a feature of UK summers so pack waterproof outer layers, T shirts and jerseys along with the sun hats, sun specs and sun cream – and don’t forget your wellies!
6. Bin bags to keep your gear dry and for packing up your debris at the end of the event.

Got the festival bug? You might like to visit the UK’s biggest cultural gathering at the Edinburgh International Festival, and if you’re looking for interesting days out with the kids, there are family-friendly things to do in Brighton and London.